Middle English Dictionary Entry
abstinent adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | abstinent adj. |
| Etymology | L ppl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Self-denying, abstemious in eating and drinking; sexually continent; also, a self-denying person, an abstainer.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.947 : Mesurable in clothynge and in contenaunce, abstinent in etynge and drynkynge.
- a1400 Caes.Dial.Mir.(Hrl 1022)157 : I was chaste enogh, abstinent, & almesfull.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)114/5 : Men truly weyn þai be holiest þat þa see most abstinent.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)5 : Abstynent, or absteynynge, or he that dothe abstynence: Abstinens.
- a1500(a1450) *St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)1207 : And to be abstinentt at borde.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.31 : Inpossible is yt this woman be ffornicatrice, So seint, abstynent, and chaste.